Free Gospel-Centered Sunday School Curriculum
for Elementary Kids

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The Lord's Prayer
(Matthew 6:9-13)

One day, Jesus was teaching a huge crowd on a mountainside. This teaching is often called the Sermon on the Mount. People had gathered from all over to hear Jesus speak about God's kingdom. Jesus wanted to show them what it looks like to truly follow God, not just on the outside but from the heart.

When Jesus talked about prayer, he noticed that some religious leaders loved to show off. They would stand on street corners or in the synagogues, praying long, loud prayers so everyone could see how "holy" they were. Jesus said, "Do not be like them." He explained that God your Father already knows what you need before you ask him. Real prayer is not a performance for others. It is a quiet, honest conversation with your heavenly Father.

Then Jesus gave his disciples a special pattern to follow. We call this pattern the Lord's Prayer. He said, "Pray then like this:

'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'"

Jesus taught that God is not a distant, angry king. He is a loving Father who lives in heaven. When we pray "hallowed be your name," we are saying that God's name is holy and wonderful. We want everyone to honor him. When we say "your kingdom come, your will be done," we are asking God to rule in our hearts and on the whole earth, just like he rules in heaven.

Then Jesus showed us to ask for our needs. "Give us today our daily bread" means we trust God to provide food, clothes, and everything we truly need each day. Next comes a very important part: "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." Debts here means the wrong things we do, our sins. Jesus says we must ask God to forgive us, and we must also forgive people who hurt us. If we hold grudges, we are not really understanding God's forgiveness.

Finally, Jesus taught us to ask for protection: "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." God never tempts anyone to sin, but he wants us to pray for strength to say no when we are tempted. He can rescue us from the evil one, Satan.

This prayer is not just a list of words to repeat. It is a guide. Jesus gave it so we would know how to talk to God every day. When we pray the Lord's Prayer, we are saying, "God, you are my Father. I love your name. Please rule in my life. Give me what I need. Forgive me, and help me forgive others. Keep me safe from temptation and evil." That is the kind of prayer God loves to hear.

A Curious Question

Why did Jesus tell us to pray for God's kingdom to come and his will to be done on earth? What might that look like in your neighborhood?

Old Testament Connection

The Lord's Prayer is deeply rooted in the Old Testament. God's people had always called him Father. The prophet Isaiah wrote, "But now, O Lord, you are our Father" (Isaiah 64:8). When Jesus taught "hallowed be your name," he was echoing the Psalms, which say, "Holy and awesome is his name" (Psalm 111:9). The request "your kingdom come" connects to God's promise to King David that one of his descendants would rule forever - the Davidic Kingdom. And "forgive us our debts" reminds us of the sacrifices and the Day of Atonement, where God provided forgiveness for Israel's sins. Jesus showed that these Old Testament promises were coming true in him.

Discussion Questions

  • Why do you think Jesus warned against praying to show off in front of others? How can we pray quietly and honestly?
  • What does it mean to forgive someone who has hurt you? Is it easy or hard? Why does God want us to forgive others?
  • When Jesus says "lead us not into temptation," how can we ask God to help us when we are about to do something wrong?

So What? What Can I Do?

  • Think about your own prayer time. Do you pray to impress people or to talk to God? This week, find a quiet spot where no one can hear you and pray the Lord's Prayer slowly, thinking about each word.
  • Is there someone who has been mean to you? Ask God to help you forgive that person from your heart, just like Jesus forgives you.
  • When you face a temptation - like cheating, lying, or being selfish - stop and whisper a quick prayer: "God, please lead me away from this temptation and keep me safe from evil."

Memorize God's Word

Matthew 6:9-10

• Our Father in heaven point upward with both hands to show God in heaven.

• hallowed be your name place your hands over your heart and bow your head to show respect and holiness.

• your kingdom come stretch your arms forward and then sweep them in a circle to show God's rule spreading everywhere.

• your will be done cross your hands over your chest and then open them wide to show obeying God's plan.

• on earth as it is in heaven point down to the ground with one hand and then point up to the sky with the other, then bring both hands together.

Praying with Kids

Dear Father in heaven, thank you for loving us like a perfect dad. Help us to honor your name and to want your kingdom to come in our hearts. Please give us the food and things we need today. Forgive us for the wrong things we have done, and help us to forgive others who hurt us. Keep us safe from temptation and from evil. We love you. Amen.

Craft or Activity

Lord's Prayer Prayer Wheel

Materials Checklist:

Prep Checklist:

  • Cut a wedge-shaped window on the top plate.
  • Write or print the six prayer phrases around the bottom plate.
  • Pre-cut brad holes for younger children.

How to Make the Lord's Prayer Prayer Wheel:

  1. Take one paper plate and cut a triangular or wedge-shaped window near the edge. This will be the top plate.
  2. On the second plate (bottom plate), write or glue the six sections of the Lord's Prayer: "Our Father in heaven," "Hallowed be your name," "Your kingdom come," "Give us daily bread," "Forgive us our debts," "Lead us not into temptation."
  3. Decorate both plates with markers or crayons. Add stars, crosses, or colors.
  4. Place the top plate over the bottom plate. Push a brad through the center of both plates to fasten them together loosely so they can spin.
  5. Spin the top plate to reveal each prayer phrase through the window. Practice praying each phrase as you turn the wheel.

Effective Teaching Techniques

  • Before the lesson, write the Lord's Prayer on a large poster board. Point to each phrase as you explain it.
  • For younger kids, use hand motions for each line of the prayer (see memory section). Practice together several times.
  • If kids struggle with forgiveness, share a personal story of forgiving someone (without naming names) to make it real.
  • Have a "quiet prayer corner" where children can go to pray alone, just like Jesus taught.